Montgomery County commissioners heard budget requests from several department heads Aug. 12, while County Judge Mark Keough began the day's budget workshop calling for an economic development director to help bring tax relief to the county.

“The county is in desperate need of some tax relief,” Keough said. “Right now, 20% of our tax revenue ... comes in from commercial; the rest is from residential households.”

What was discussed: Department heads from emergency management, roads and bridges, courts, the sheriff and other offices presented their needs to the commissioners Aug. 12, but commissioners said no decisions would be made that day.

The sheriff’s department will see an increase in needs, Sheriff Wesley Doolittle said. Doolittle projected a 4.8%, or $5.8 million, increase in departmental needs, the majority of which—$3.1 million—is in salaries.

Commissioners said throughout the second day of the workshops that they were not making decisions.

there are several events taking place this weekend around the Conroe and Montgomery area. Check them out below. This list is not comprehensive, and events are subject to change.
Friday Night Family Feud
B52 Brewing Company will be hosting a family-friendly Family Feud night on August 14; the event is free to the public.

• Aug. 14, 7 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 12470 Milroy Lane, Conroe
• www.lakeconroe.com/events/family-feud-2026-08-14/

• Aug. 15, 8:30-10 p.m.
• $35 general admission
• 604 La Torretta Blvd., Montgomery
• Facebook: Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe

• Aug. 14, 7 p.m.
• $30 tickets
• 234 N. Main St., Conroe
• www.cythouston.org

Houston airport workers will receive a minimum wage increase of $5 for a new wage of $20 an hour, which will gradually rise to $23 an hour by 2028.
What this means: Mayor John Whitmire signed an executive order Aug. 12 alongside members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the labor union that represents airport workers, that would immediately begin the new wages.

Workers employed by air carriers, concessions and airport contractors will qualify for the raise.

“This helps, but this is just the beginning,” Whitmire said. “It's not going to be just wages. It's going to be working conditions.”

Before signing the executive order, the minimum wage was $15 an hour at Houston airports, including Hobby and IAH. This is the first salary increase for Houston workers since 2023, when former Mayor Sylvester Turner raised their minimum wage from $12 to $15 an hour.

One more thing: The increase is scheduled to go up to $21 in January 2027, $22 in October 2027 and by 2028 it will be $23 an hour.